Peter Gallagher


Peter Killian Gallagher is an American actor. Since 1980, he has played roles in numerous Hollywood films. He is best known for starring as Sandy Cohen in the television drama series The O.C. from 2003 to 2007, and recurring roles in television such as Deputy Chief William Dodds on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Stacey Koons on the Showtime comedy-drama Californication, Nick on the Netflix series Grace & Frankie, and Director of Clandestine Services Arthur Campbell on Covert Affairs. He also is known for his roles in the films Bob Roberts, The Player, Short Cuts, While You Were Sleeping, American Beauty, Mr. Deeds, and Palm Springs. In musical theatre, his best-known roles are that of Sky Masterson in the 1992 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls and Oscar Jaffe in the 2015 Broadway revival of On the Twentieth Century.

Early life

Gallagher was born in New York City. His mother, Mary Ann, was a bacteriologist, and his father, Thomas Francis Gallagher, Jr., was an advertising executive. Gallagher is the youngest of their three children. He is of Irish Catholic background and was raised in Armonk, New York. Gallagher graduated from Tufts University, where he was active in theater, appearing in such shows as Stephen Sondheim's Company and singing with the all-male a cappella group the Beelzebubs. He studied acting at the William Esper Studio and with Mira Rostova.

Career

Gallagher appeared on Broadway with Glenn Close in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and made his feature film debut in the Taylor Hackford film The Idolmaker, but first achieved fame for his role in Steven Soderbergh's sex, lies, and videotape. He also starred as Sky Masterson in the 1992 Broadway hit revival of Guys and Dolls.
Gallagher played a potential career threat to Tim Robbins's studio executive in The Player ; the comatose fiancé of Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping ; a major real estate salesman having an affair with Annette Bening in American Beauty ; a media executive in Mr. Deeds ; and a political reporter exposing media ethics during a presidential debate in The Last Debate.
From 2003 to 2007, Gallagher starred as Sandy Cohen, a Jewish public defender and corporate lawyer, on the Fox television show The O.C. He hosts an annual award ceremony named "The Sandy Cohen Awards" or The Sandys, which, in honor of his character on The O.C., gives a scholarship to a law school student at UC Berkeley who wants to become a public defender.
Gallagher released an album titled 7 Days in Memphis in 2005, on the Sony BMG label. This includes a studio recording of his performance of "Don't Give Up On Me", which was featured in an episode of The O.C. He also has a video for his single "Still I Long For Your Kiss", in which he starred with his TV-wife Kelly Rowan.
In 2005, Gallagher received the P.T. Barnum Award from Tufts University for his exceptional work in the field of media and entertainment. In 2007, Gallagher received the "Light on the Hill" award at Tufts University. The award is given to notable alumni from Tufts who have demonstrated ambition, achievement, and active citizenship.
From February 13 through July 5, 2015, Gallagher starred on Broadway in On the Twentieth Century although he missed several performances in late February due to illness.
In 2020 Gallagher played Mitch Clarke, who had progressive supranuclear palsy, in a regular role in the first season of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. Though his character died in the season 1 finale, Gallagher appeared in several episodes of the second season and the Christmas special Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas.
In 2021, Gallagher took part in the television series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. David Hamilton.
From 2018 through 2022, Gallagher appeared in four seasons of the Netflix series Grace and Frankie as Nick, the boyfriend of Jane Fonda's character Grace.
In 2024, Gallagher is set to return to Broadway, in a new play based on the life of Delia Ephron, titled Left on Tenth.

Personal life

Gallagher is married to Paula Harwood and has two children, James and Kathryn. His daughter Kathryn is an actress and singer.

Filmography

Film

Television films

Television series

Stage credits

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977HairClaude
1978GreaseDanny ZukoBroadway
1981Romeo and JulietBenvolio
1982A Doll's LifeOttoBroadway; Theatre World Award
1983The Corn Is GreenMorgan EvansBroadway
1983Another CountryGuy Bennett
1984The Real ThingBillyBroadway; Clarence Derwent Awards—Most Promising Male
1985–1986Pride and PrejudiceFitzwilliam Darcy
1986Long Day's Journey Into NightEdmund TyroneBroadway; Nominated—Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
1992Guys and DollsSky MastersonBroadway; Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical
1995Pal JoeyJoey Evans
2001–2002Noises OffLloyd DallasBroadway
2002Funny GirlNick ArnsteinBroadway Concert
2002The ExoneratedKerry Max Cook
2008The Country GirlBernie DoddBroadway
2015On the Twentieth CenturyOscar JaffeBroadway
2019The Little MermaidKing TritonConcert
2024Left on TenthPeterBroadway